Esat Canli — Venture operator and investor

About

Currently, I am the Founding Chief of Staff and Head of Middle East at EchoTwin AI, a physical AI company deploying VLM-based intelligence technology for municipal clients across the UAE, Qatar, and the US. I spearheaded the company's $8M seed round with Metis Ventures as lead investor alongside Plug and Play, Eksim Ventures, Automotive Ventures, and HL Ventures. I also directed its first-of-a-kind physical AI hardware deployments across the UAE and Qatar, and currently lead its Middle East expansion.

I spent approximately five years at Autotech Ventures, a $600M mobility-focused VC fund in Menlo Park, California, where I evaluated thousands of mobility startups and led, sourced or co-led ~$30M in investments across 10+ transactions, including companies that went on to IPO on the NYSE, be acquired, and raise Series A and B rounds from prominent funds.

I began my career in venture capital at Revo Capital, shaping the firm's 5-year fintech investment strategy, and served as a fellow with 500 Global sourcing founders in Silicon Valley.

Early on I also worked at Boston Consulting Group, advising a multi-billion dollar conglomerate on consumer marketplace strategy. I had a short tenure at Ernst & Young advising Turkish manufacturers on international expansion.

Beyond investing and operating, I co-founded 180 Degrees Consulting, operating in partnership with McKinsey & Company, growing it into the largest student-led consulting nonprofit in MENA with 1,000+ members and alumni across five continents.

I trained as an Industrial and Systems engineer in the United States and Turkey, focusing on AI/ML systems, supply chain, transportation and operations research. I graduated from Boğaziçi University (3.4 GPA), Turkey's leading engineering college with a top percentile acceptance rate, and have attended Istanbul Technical University (3.8 GPA), and spent a semester at the University of Oklahoma.

AI Stuff

Mobility Threads — dispatches on physical AI, VC & the future of movement.

Dec 12, 2024 · Issue 01 Mobility Threads: Inaugural Release

Release #1 — all things AI × mobility × venture capital. No fluff, just sharp, info-packed Track Snaps. Everything you need, nothing you don't.

Postcards

Field notes from the road — cities, people, and what they build.

Related Transactions

Selected transactions from Autotech Ventures ($600M AUM). Sourced or co-led $33.5M across 13 companies.

Appearance and Impact

Speaking engagements, panels, podcast appearances, and press.

Speaking · GITEX2026

Esat
Canli

Hattusa — Capital of the Hittites

How EchoTwin AI Approaches Physical AI

Physical AI for the Public Sector

Çıtayı Yükseltenler

Hub71 — 18th Cohort

Alumni Talks

Saudi Intermobility Expo

EchoTwin AI — $8M Seed Round

Autotech Ventures — Portfolio Spotlight

Autotech Ventures — Market Visit

Mobility Summit

Autotech Ventures — $230M Mobility Fund

Autotech Ventures Expands into UAE

Tadweer Group — AI Environmental Pilot

Teknosa — Marketplace Launch